Plans for national British day rejected

UPI News Service, 10/27/2008

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's plan for a national day in Britain aimed at celebrating everything British will not be introduced, an official says.

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Constitution Minister Michael Wills says the national day proposal offered by Brown in 2006 and recommended by former Attorney General Peter Goldsmith will not become a reality anytime in the near future, The Daily Telegraph said Monday.

"A number of Lord (Peter) Goldsmith's recommendations merit further consideration across government and will be taken into account in discussion and debate on policy development in these areas," Wills said during a recent meeting of parliament members.

"However, there are no plans to introduce a national day at the present time."

The proposal would have created a holiday on which all British residents would celebrate their favorite thing about Britain.

Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert told the Telegraph the proposal's failure is another negative result for Brown's "Britishness agenda."

"First a national motto, then an oath of allegiance, now a patriotic day -- one token initiative after another in Gordon Brown's Britishness agenda has sunk without trace," Herbert said.